The Consequences of Decision Making Processes in Performing Arts Organizations

• In Event: 078 - Section on Sociology of Culture Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 08. Symbols and Boundaries

Abstract

Whose stories get told on stage? Previous research into the decision-making process used by artistic leaders in performing arts organizations suggests that the way these leaders plan out their seasons has the unintended consequence of favoring certain kinds of plays. In particular, plays featuring white characters, and to a lesser extent, plays featuring African-American characters, are more likely to be performed than those featuring characters from other racial and ethnic groups. In addition, musicals are more likely to be performed than non-musicals, and plays by William Shakespeare are more likely to be performed than those by other playwrights. Using a dataset of plays performed by the member theatres of the Theatre Communications Group from the 1995-1996 season to the 2014-15 season, I test these hypotheses to understand which factors limit or improve the chance that certain works will be chosen and thus made accessible to the wider public.

Author

• Gregory Trainor Kordsmeier, Indiana University Southeast